In Friday's third and final match, Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova beat world number two Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-0 in a consolation match between the two eliminated players.

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But, right at the last, the Gunners grabbed some consolation from the match as Rosicky's shot came off Lucas Neill and Howard was beaten again.

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Sneijder stroked home a pull-back from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt to essentially seal the game for the Dutch, with Robert Vittek firing home a consolation penalty with the very last kick of the match.

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But they can take away the consolation that they stayed with Halifax for most of the match and showed greater determination and resolve in defence than at any stage of the season so far.

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Selley claimed his second try of the match in injury time, Bowen converting, while Glasgow had a consolation score from replacement Lawson.

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That, combined with the poor attendances for the first two days, means this match will be no cash-cow for the ECB - though they have the consolation of staging international cricket on an almost non-stop basis until 20 September.

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One consolation for the Australians, who need to make the highest score ever to win a Test match in India, is the form of off-spinner Jason Krejza, whose match figures of 12-358 were the fourth best by a bowler on debut.

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